5. Successful Internet Communication

Use of the Internet as a source of information has increased spectacularly over the past five years. In Canada today, the percentage of users is nearly 70 per cent of the population. Furthermore, more than 40 per cent of Canadians chose the Internet to gather information in the spring of 2002^{Footnote 1}.

As seen in the graph, the groups that use the Internet the least are associated with individuals with low literacy skills:

• older Canadians;
• lower-income individuals;
• those with less formal education.

However, individuals with low literacy skills are less afraid of using new technologies than they are of not being able to find and understand the information available.^{Footnote 2}

INTERNET ACCESS
% having access to the Internet
Difference between generations	Difference based on income level	Difference in level of education

Communication Canada, Listening to Canadians: Communications Survey, Winter 2001.

When surveyed regarding improvements to on-line services and information, individuals with low literacy skills indicated that they would like them to be more:

• respectful;
• secure;
• useful;
• credible;
• reliable.

They also clearly prefer information focused on concrete results (for example, finding a job, applying for employment insurance or the Canada Pension Plan).

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